Marc Márquez knows the world is watching him. Every move is analyzed by his mechanics, his fans, his brother, and all his rivals. The rider from Cervera, after reclaiming the MotoGP World Championship a few months ago, begins his title defense. The price you pay when you're champion is that right afterward, everyone will want to dethrone you. But Márquez, atop his Ducati Desmosedici GP26, seems ready for the challenge, having almost fully recovered from the shoulder injury that required surgery at the end of last season. "I feel I have room to improve, based on my previous form before the injury. I can start the World Championship ready to fight, but we'll have to see how the races go, as they're always more demanding than practice. My shoulder is fine, but I still need more energy," the champion cautiously stated this week.

Marc Márquez's career will always be marked by his July 2020 crash at Jerez. His bike launched him off the road, and the impact with the asphalt was violent. The inertia battered him, sending him into somersaults, his body spinning out of control. After the marshals assisted him, the Catalan rider sat down on the first plastic chair he found outside the danger zone. His movements before removing his helmet already suggested an injury, but no one imagined it was the beginning of a cruel period that would nearly end his career. He had broken his right humerus. At first glance, a minor injury. But it required four operations and ruined three seasons.

The years go by and the relationship between Marc Márquez and Valentino Rossi remains tense. Although ll Dottore It's been four years since he left MotoGP. Thus, every visit by the Cerverí to the Misano Circuit, located 50 kilometers from Urbino, Rossi's birthplace, is like going to the enemy's home. The Italian has been present at the circuit this weekend, and even crossed paths with Márquez in the pit lane, but they didn't look at each other. On Saturday, with Márquez's crash during the sprint, the cameras saw Rossi's smile slip away, celebrating. On Sunday, the World Championship leader got his revenge: he won the long race, to the desperation of the home crowd, and left the title within easy reach. He could be champion in Japan and equal Rossi's nine titles, seven of them in MotoGP.

The weekend of motorcycling in Montmeló was dominated by two names: brothers Marc and Àlex Márquez. While on Saturday the elder of the Cervera brothers snatched victory from his brother almost at the finish line, Àlex led and won this Sunday a Grand Prix that marks his second victory in the premier class, both this season after having achieved it in Jerez.

Marc Márquez publicly explained on Thursday that he didn't want to gain another 10 points in the World Championship standings over his brother at this Catalan Grand Prix because that would mean Àlex hadn't had a good weekend at home. However, these 10 points would give Marc a match point at the San Marino Grand Prix. to mathematically become Moto GP world championMarc's wish seemed to have come true when Alex took the lead alone in the sprint race, but the younger Márquez brother crashed at Turn 10 with just three laps remaining. Thus, Marc took the win, extending his lead at the top of the standings to 12 points. If Alex doesn't do better than Marc in the long race tomorrow, Sunday, it'll be a game-changer for the next race.

The Spanish MotoGP Grand Prix at the end of April marked a turning point in the way Marc Márquez handles the media attention during this period of dictatorial dominance that will lead him, barring a serious accident, to winning a world championship again six years later, having risen from the ashes. At the Jerez Circuit, those around him realized there were too many people hanging around Marc during Grand Prix weekends. Media, guests (one of those who attended was tennis player Carlos Alcaraz), fans... So, Ducati, his team, took measures so he could focus more on the competition.

On Friday, he crashed twice. The first time, he strained his left arm, and the second left him with groin pain and blood on his chin. But these setbacks weren't enough to stop Marc Márquez (Ducati), either in Saturday's sprint race at the Circuit d'Assen (he has won nine of ten this season) or in Sunday's feature race.

It's a toss-up for the Márquez brothers in Jerez. While Marc crashes at the start of the race, Álex capitalizes on the mistake to win the Spanish Grand Prix. A very special victory, given that it's his first in MotoGP. But it also allows him to regain first place in the World Championship, with one more point than his brother. The Cervera brothers are passing the buck, although, if not for Marc's mistakes, the championship would have clearly gone in favor of the eight-time world champion.

The accident suffered by Marc Márquez (Ducati) in the Grand Prix of the Americas was just that, an accident. The rider from Cervera made up for the mistake that caused him to retire in Texas and is once again leading the MotoGP World Championship with an iron fist after winning the Qatar GP, the fourth of the season. Victory in the sprint race on Saturday was the prelude to victory in the big race this Sunday at the Losail circuit, where despite starting from the pole He had to wait until the second half of the race to secure first place until the checkered flag. Six years after his last World Championship victory, Márquez leaves Doha feeling like he has the best bike and more motivation than anyone to regain glory. He was joined on the podium by fellow Catalan Maverick Viñales (KTM), the evening's main event, and his teammate Pecco Bagnaia. Viñales was subsequently penalized 16 seconds (and therefore relegated to 14th place) for low tire pressure.

Marco Márquez or Álex Márquez? Álex or Marco? That's the only question at the start of MotoGP: who will finish ahead and, therefore, who will win the corresponding race. The Cervera brothers are monopolizing the start of the championship with an almost insulting advantage. No one can challenge them in the Grands Prix. Not even Pecco Bagnaia, a two-time champion who, on paper, rides the best bike on the grid, but far from fighting for victory, must settle for just a podium finish. And he doesn't always succeed.